The Tatamy PA Blog . . .

What's happening in and around the Borough of Tatamy, PA.
Please keep in mind that these thoughts are mine only and in no way should they be interpreted as official meeting minutes or reflect any official position of the Borough of Tatamy (the lawyers didn't make me say that, I beat them to it).

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Do you have an emergency supply kit? If not, you should consider putting one together. Here's a great list from which to build yours:

STEP ONE: "GET A KIT" of Emergency Supplies

ITEMS FOR YOUR HOME:

Three days' supply of canned, non-perishable, ready-to-eat FOOD
Three days' supply of WATER (a total of three gallons per family member)
Battery-operated RADIO and extra batteries
FLASHLIGHT and extra batteries
One week's prescription MEDICATIONS
FIRST AID KIT
Personal TOILETRIES
Non-electric CAN OPENER and UTENSILS
SPECIAL NEEDS items:
INFANT care items
Items for ELDERLY family members
Items for relatives with DISABILITIES
CASH or TRAVELERS CHECKS
Store important DOCUMENTS in a waterproof, safe location

IN CASE YOU NEED TO EVACUATE:

Keep your vehicle's gas level at a minimum of half-a-tank.
Every family member must carry CONTACT INFORMATION:
All phone numbers at work, school, etc. for every family member
The name and number of a relative who lives out-of-state, to call in case your family gets separated.

"...MAJOR HURRICANE IRENE TO STRONGLY AFFECT THE EAST COAST FROM NC
INTO THE NEW ENGLAND THIS WEEKEND...

THE LATEST NUMERICAL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO ADJUST WESTWARD AS HAS
THE LAST SEVERAL NHC TRACK FORECASTS WHICH NOW HAVE EYE OF IRENE
COMING THRU THE NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS LATE SATURDAY BEFORE
GRAZING THE DELMARVA AND NEW JERSEY THEN MOVING INTO THE NORTHEAST
ON SUNDAY. THIS POTENTIALLY COULD BE EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE WITH
MASSIVE DISRUPTIONS TO SOCIETY AND COMMERCE ALONG ITS ENTIRE TRACK
WITH VERY HIGH WINDS/STORM SURGE/OCEAN OVERWASH/BEACH
EROSION/SOUND AND BAY SIDE COASTAL FLOODING AND EXTREME TIDE
POTENTIAL. WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINS IN THE 6-10 INCH RANGE WILL BE
COMMON WITH GREATLY INCREASED INLAND FLOOD POTENTIAL. REFER TO THE
NHC FOR THE LATEST FORECAST OF IRENE ALONG WITH LOCAL NWS
WARNINGS/STATEMENTS AND ADVISORIES FROM NC INTO NEW ENGLAND."

This is a potentially very dangerous situation unfolding. I am meeting with the local Emergency Management officials this evening to review our plans and ensure that we're ready - or as ready as we can be - to ride out the storm.

Again - I cannot stress this enough - you need to ensure that you review your own personal Emergency Management Plan. Review your emergency kits. Make sure that you have enough non-perishable canned food and water on hand to carry you through a few days where services may be interrupted. Are your vehicles fueled? Check your yards. It's summer time. Chances are you have outdoor furniture or other decorations that will blow away in periods of heavy winds. I'm going to go back to my Navy days and say that all "gear adrift" (patio furniture, umbrellas, garbage cans, outdoor decorations, flags, etc.) should be secured someplace indoors. If that's not possible, ensure that it's tied down in such a manner as to not blow away and create a potential hazard. If you have them - check your sump pumps for proper operation. Do you have a backup generator? Do you have fuel for it? Please remember - DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES OPERATE AN EMERGENCY GENERATOR INDOORS.

There will be more updates in the coming days. Call or drop a note if you have any questions. Thanks!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

In case you've been living under a rock (no reference to the Geico commercial), Hurricane Irene is projected to come up the eastern seaboard this weekend, bringing with it potentially damaging winds and flooding rains.

I have scheduled a meeting on Thursday evening with the Emergency Management Team to review our plans and make sure that we, as a Borough are prepared for whatever Mother Nature may toss our way. Think back a few years to Hurricane Ivan - remember what happened then.

I'll be in touch after that meeting. In the meantime, it might not be a bad idea to review your own emergency plans - and take an inventory of your emergency supplies (canned goods, batteries, water, etc.) to make sure that you are prepared.

Welcome!

I will share on this blog my thoughts and some of the happenings around town. I welcome and encourage you to participate with comments, thoughts, and suggestions.

For those in Tatamy who elected me, even for those of you who didn't - (don't worry, nobody's perfect and I won't hold it against you), I want to hear from you. I was chosen, by you, to represent your thoughts and ideas on the Council. The only way for me to to do that is to hear from you. Please email me at any time, post comments here, leave me a voice message using that fancy "call me" link you see below (try it - it's very cool), or, if you see me walking around, stop me and say "hi". I look forward to hearing from all of you.

In case you think you may have missed something, you might want to check the "archive" section toward the bottom of the page. All the "new" content appears at the top, and the older posts eventually scroll off.